2013-11-27 - Today you are perfect
"Listen to your body," a common expression that makes some sense. I say jokingly, listen to your body, except when you are in a race! The realty is that when you push to your limits, you and your body become enemies, one fighting to keep the hammer down and one fighting to get you to stop. The trick is to discern what is truly dangerous behavior and what is just the pain of fatigue that you can push through; hence, time to ignore the body.
When the balance of pain and effort get us to the finish line with a new personal record and a great sense of fulfillment it is important to savor the moment, to reflect on all you did to arrive at this point. Think about days you got in the miles when the last thing you wanted to do was get up and run. This run was your best, don't allow negative thoughts to spoil the moment, thoughts like what you could have done better in training, or runs that you missed. Today, you are perfect, the numbers prove this out.
A good effort can brighten our lives and carry us forward for a while. There are times I think back to a great run, reliving the feeling years later and finding I can still take pride and pleasure from them. Life will throw darks days our way, some that will be overwhelming, but by savoring the good days, the memories will be a part of our arsenal of thoughts that can pull us through.
Savor every healthy run,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, who is enjoying a nice stretch of wonderful healthy runs, that I am stashing away in memory.
PS. Make Running Fit an official Black Friday stop! Buy any combination of jacket and pant, and receive the item of lesser value for 50% off! Select shoes 25% off. Happy Thanksgiving!
PS. Join us at Running Fit Novi in the Novi Town Center on Saturday 12/7 for a Group Run followed by Breakfast presented by Gore-Tex! Routes of 3, 6, and 10 miles will be marked. You will have the option to test wear the Brooks Ghost GTX, Brooks Adrenaline GTX, and Saucony Ride GTX. There will also be Polar heart rate monitors availalbe for demo. Doors open at 7:30am, run starts at 8am. RSVP here; let us know you'll be there
PS. Later in the same day (Saturday 12/7,) join us at the Holiday Hustle 5K in Dexter. Run - or Volunteer - and enjoy the December night air, BURN A FEW HOLIDAY CALORIES and give back to others. Get there between 3 & 4pm and visit Santa at the Gazebo in Monument Park; you can ask him for a nice PR for Christmas.
2013-11-20 - Run, because you can
Run, because you can - Novenber 20, 2013
I am a fan of the line: "this is not a dress rehearsal." Every day is precious and what really makes this true is that this very day might be our last. Yes, we may be training for a goal event, saving money for some future purchase or working on some elaborate long term project ... But this stuff all depends on what tomorrow brings. We know that it's important that we take time each day and live in the moment, it takes effort, but the effort is always rewarded.
Our run fits this live in the moment requirement pretty well. That said, no matter how passionate we are about our daily run, it still takes an effort to leave all those projects behind and get ourselves out the door each day. When we finish our run, we realize how important the run was to our lives and we are always happy we ran. So why in the heck don't we have that same feeling and realization as we contemplate getting out for our run? We do get out the door and we do run ... but not often is it easy. This continues to baffle me, but it is what it is.
Get out and run,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner ... who still needs a reminder of why.
2013-11-13 - You are a Runner!
On Sunday I spent a couple hours shopping at Running Fit. It's a busy life and even though I'm surrounded by the store most days, the time it takes to browse, shop and relax needs to be put on the schedule to get to it. As I listened to the banter on the floor between the customers and staff I heard some wonderful accounts by new runners describing the feelings experienced when they realize that they really, are a runner! A common theme: "I worked up to running a mile and it was no fun and a lot of work, I finally ran 2 miles without walking and collapsed thinking my goal of running a 5K would never happen. I've kept at it and yesterday I actually ran 4 miles! Now running a mile no longer scares me, it's nothing! I am so excited to line up for the 5K and I deserve good shoes!" The moral of the story, if you need inspiration, just hang out in a running store and listen!
Back to shopping ... My Smartwool socks have treated me well but a few holey pairs need to go, I grab 4 new pairs of the same style and color as before, why mess with success. And although I think of myself as being a bit of shoe hound, the reality is that my current stash does not include a pair with under 150 miles on them, I guess it's a good sign ... I grab a pair of Brooks Cascadias for the trails and a pair of my current go to road shoe: the Mizuno Elixir ... that I find has changed names and lost some weight, it's now the Wave Sayonara. Actually, I kind of like when a shoe I like has an update, it makes me feel adventurous and not the creature of habit, that in reality, I may be. Lastly, I grab a 30 split Timex watch ... to replace the 2nd one I've lost this year. I leave the store excited, inspired and ... ready to run ... but first I needed to find my car keys ...
You'll never forget the moment you realize, you are a runner!
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner ... who remembers my first 2 mile run and the feeling of excitement for the sport, one that continues to grow after all these years.
2013-11-06 - Winter Run Tricks
Winter Run Tricks, November 6, 2013
Unlike the dog days of summer where even running naked might not bring relief from the heat, we can always dress for whatever winter throws in our path.
The most difficult part of running on a blustery winter day is just getting out the door into the dark and cold. A trick is to over dress to avoid that cold slap in the face that might drive us back inside. Perhaps plan to start the run with a short loop that passes your house or starting point so you can shed some clothes - or wear a small pack to stash items - so you will be able to pull them back out if the weather changes for the worse. A couple of my favorites for the winter arsenal are a balaclava to pull up over the head and ears, especially on a windy days, or tucked back down around the neck, also dual layered glove or mittens that allow us to take off or put back on a layer, both are items that can be used like a thermostat.
Don't forget reflective apparel, lights and headlamps for safety and shoe traction to keep out butts from slamming into the ground. This is a link to a cute little video on Brooks Light Night apparel . And yes, it is available at Running Fit along with lots of flashy fun items to keep you safe and seen. Notice how I repeat the important stuff?
The wimpy world will look out the window in awe as we go by enjoying the crunch of a new snow on a crisp winter morning as we run into the sunrise!
Bring it on,
--Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who gets a kick out of coming across other runner's footprints in the snow, making comments to myself about their stride length, foot strike, and guessing what shoes they are wearing!
P.S. - Come be FLASHY and SAFE with us at our Run Safe, Be Safe group run on Monday, November 11 at 6:30pm, Running Fit NOVI! Reflective giveaways and great deals, don't miss out!
2013-10-30 - The Adventure continues...
As I lined up for this year's Detroit Marathon, with what I knew was minimal training, I also knew I was in for an "Adventure" (From the Latin "Adventura". Definition: Where the outcome is uncertain). Other words I could have used in place of adventure are escapade, lark, feat, ordeal, test, trial, tribulation, risk, venture, expedition, exploration, mission, quest or stunt; the bottom line, this would be a memorable day, a day of learning, a day of self discovery ... the kind of days we LIVE FOR!
Like sailing out into the ocean at an approaching storm, I knew I would be tested, I knew there would be hell to pay, but I also knew that when it hit, I would break out in a smile knowing this is exactly what I came for. Just past mile 21, while heading back up the Belle Isle bridge, my world got dark. I laughed, smiled, shed a tear and took inventory. I changed my form, searching for unused muscles that might have a bit of glycogen left. I made goals of not walking until the next mile mark, until the next block, until the next crack in the road ... I imagined I was being lifted and pushed forward by an imaginary force, I yelled out like a madman, "It's time to pick up the pace and take it home!", and for a few yards, I actually did ... so I tried this again. I fought pain, I lost coordination, I stumbled but did not fall, after an eternity of struggle the darkness cleared and I could just make out the sign, mile 26.
Randy Step, an admitted Obsessed Runner
2013-10-23 - Night Moves
Twas' a fine weekend for running down in the "D" at the Detroit Free Press Races. Congrats to all who accomplished their goals or at least had the courage to start! It was fun for us to see so many of you at the Running Fit booth or on or along the course.
Safety is always a running priority but as the days shorten and we run into and out of the darkness it takes constant vigilance. Always run against traffic and even though we will all be running with reflective clothing, vests, headlamps and perhaps strobe flashers, expect the unexpected and remain alert and agile. This is also the time to dig out your running shoe traction tricks like Yak Tracks, in case of a bit of black ice or snow. And yes ... Running Fit has a great selection of footwear traction devices, reflective vests and headlamps, be prepared.
Sunrise and sunsets experienced on the run take on a mystical quality, making the run seem to cover more than one day and supercharging the experience, leaving us with a satisfaction the non running world will never know. Bring on daylight savings, we can handle it!
Run long, run safe, and run into the seasons,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who is ready to take on the night!
PS: Save the Date: October 30th: Grand Opening Festivities will take place at the New Running Fit, Arbor Hills, Washtenaw at Platt Rd., Ann Arbor, run, food, drinks, music, swag!
PS: Join us for a Runner's Slam Breakfast Run celebrating running and racing! The doors will open at 7am Saturday, October 26 at Running Fit in Novi, with a group run at 7:30am. Saucony will be bringing out some wear test shoes! Don't miss a FREE post run celebratory breakfast! More info HERE!
2013-10-16 - Run, Grow, Live
I've been a runner... for a long time. How we run, the thoughts we have about running and what completes us as a runner will continue to evolve, adding a richness to this running life that only gets better.
In the early years I loved the breakthroughs in my time and speed. Learning and growing faster from books, magazines, coaches, speed work, schedules, high mileage and racing kept my fire lit.
Eventually my running transitioned into the social framework of my life. Training partners, the running club, group trips to races and shared running experiences got me out the door. My personal records motivated me because I could share them with a group that could appreciate my accomplishments and I in turn took pleasure in hearing of or witnessing their success.
As I matured as a runner, I became the coach. Taking new runners, guiding them past the mistakes and helping them accomplish their personal goals allowed me to bask in the glory of their success along with my own. On my runs, my mind was consumed by how I could make a difference in the success of others. As a coach, my runs took on new meaning, I was out there putting in long and hard miles in an attempt to gain insight into something I could share.
Today, the meditative and philosophical stream of consciousness aspects of the run, in combination with living in the moment, fulfills me to the core. There are days I need to run long and alone, on others I enjoy sharing the moment, sharing thoughts or sharing only the sounds of footfalls and labored breath.
Run, grow, live,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner... And I'm really OK with that.
PS: The Self Defense Clinic coming to Running Fit Northville on 10/21 6:30pm: More Info and Registration HERE. This 90 minute class is led by Lee Shaykhett and you can find more info on his training techniques at http://www.shaykhettraining.com/
PS: Save the Date: October 30th: Grand Opening Festivities will take place at the New Running Fit, Arbor Hills, Washtenaw at Platt Rd., Ann Arbor, run, food, drinks, music, swag!
PS: Join us for a Runner's Slam Breakfast Run celebrating running and racing! The doors will open at 7am Saturday, October 26 at Running Fit in Novi, with a group run at 7:30am. Saucony will be bringing out some wear test shoes! Don't miss a FREE post run celebratory breakfast! More info HERE!
2013-10-09 - I NEED to Run
I have found running and now I am a runner, no longer do I just want to run, I need to run. My need for running is like my need to get outside, it's like my need to get to the woods. Running is my natural fix. Running is a place I must go to recharge my body and mind, like an ancient druid that gets supernatural powers from contact with the earth, I draw clarity and energy with each foot fall. A walk in the woods works wonders; add sweat and it's like throwing on the holy waters of baptism, cleansing me from deep in my soul to the surface of my skin.
Perhaps the need to run comes from the get down to basics nature of our sport. Running is so unlike the complicated, computer generated framework that has come to control much of our daily existence. The run allows us to unplug and reboot. Running requires so little, in fact, it can be done naked, I'd say that's a pretty good test for simplicity. Some minimal shodding and covering may add to our comfort and keep us from some puritan violations but all in all, still beautifully simple.
Eat, drink, sleep, love, run,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who ... needs to run.
PS: RUN SCREAM RUN with us at Wiard's Orchard in Ypsilanti on Saturday! Glorious weather, Zombies and other nonsense. 5K, 10K, enter at runscreamrun.com . Late entry on site Friday and race morning.
PS: Run Scream Run raffle to benefit one of Hope Clinic's Care and Share Closet, which provides personal care items and household cleaners to individuals in need. For each donated item get a raffle ticket to win running shoes, gift cards, event entries and cool stuff! Drop off at early registration or race day. Donation Items needed: Toilet paper, Dishwashing liquid, High-efficiency (he), powdered laundry detergent, All-purpose cleaners - Comet, Ajax, Pine Sol, etc., Baby formula - Enfamil in yellow cans, Baby wipes, Deodorant, Feminine hygiene products. (Limit 5 tickets per person) Hope Clinic, serving those in need with dignity and respect.(www.thehopeclinic.org )
PS: Save the Date: October 30th: Grand Opening Festivities will take place at the New Running Fit, Arbor Hills, Washtenaw at Platt Rd., Ann Arbor, run, food, drinks, music, swag!
PS: Run with us in Mexico! February 15 - 22, 2014! Official details to come, express interest here!
2013-10-02 - Plan, Run, Learn, Race
Fall is certainly the sweet spot of the running year, not only do we get glorious crisp running days but it's the season for us to put all our hard work and training into action at the fall events. Many of you have targeted your year towards a fall race, be that the marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K or whatever, you now get to reap the rewards from your long term goal planning and execution. Training for an event teaches us the life skills that will bring us success in all aspects of this busy and wonderful life. For those of us who have been at this a while, each event is a bit of a refresher course in time management and planning. I find that during the time period that I'm training for a specific race, my life's direction seems clear and focused and my productivity is high in all areas, when not in training I get sidetracked with nonsense, perhaps the answer is to always have a goal.
Plan, run, learn, race,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner ... Who does not move forward well without a game plan
PS: For those of you who have chosen to join us at Heroes on Hines, we thank you. We are proud to be a part of this serious and important fund raising project for the memorial to fallen first responders. I can't wait to check out the finished project race day, this Saturday, October 5th! Half marathon and 5k Late entry is available for those of you who have not yet entered, what a great way to get in a last training run for Detroit. See heroesonhines.com
PS: Thinking of running a Turkey Trot this Thanksgiving? Join Running Fit for Turkey Trot training beginning Saturday October 19. Turkey Trot Training
PS: Soon the nonsense starts, the silly and fun races to wind down the year. Runs like Run Scream Run 5k, 10k on October 12th, where we get to dress up and run from or with the Zombies at Michigan's number one horror attraction, Wiard's Orchard, in Ypsilanti. It's also the perfect low key taper fun for Detroit Freep (With awesome finisher's medals!). See runscreamrun.com. You can't beat a fall color road trip to Traverse City, especially when you throw in an October 26th Zombie race from a brewery when you get there! See tczombierun.com .
PS: Finish up the year with the Holiday Hustle 5k in Dexter, the perfect holiday tradition. See
runholiday5k.com
2013-09-25 - We must becone selfish
Running is play, escape, meditation, and gets us back to being on the same team as our body, reminding us that our minds and bodies are one and we will remain incomplete, unproductive and unhealthy if we don't nurture this mind and body as one. We live in a world that separates us from our bodies, a world that asks that we focus our attention on business, family, relationships, productivity and charity. It is our responsibility to take care of ourselves, to create the time and expend the energy on what our body and mind are personally in need of. We must become selfish ... for the good of the world. If we are without health and happiness, we are the ones who will be in need and will not be in the position to give or to play a positive role in this world. There are many days that our daily run will be the most important thing that we do.
Yesterday I went to one of those seminars that offer a magic formula for taking your business to the next level of success. I was asked, what is the mission statement for Running Fit? My answer, we are out to help our people find the meaning of life. The room got quiet.
May today's run give you what you need,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, who, like you, will be heading out on the roads and trails today seeking the answers to the questions our existence and the existence of the universe, as we will be on our run tomorrow and every day until we do.
P.S. - Remember summer? It will be back again next year! Join us at our Ann Arbor West location at 5700 Jackson Rd. Friday through Sunday for 40-75% off summer apparel! Stock up so you're ready to take on the heat when it returns!
P.S. - Looking for a beautiful fall weekend in the woods? Join Running Fit September 28 in Traverse City for Run Vasa, a 5K, 10K and 25K trail run. runvasa.com
P.P.S - Love giving back? Join us as a volunteer at the 20 Mile Training Run September 28! Cheer on and help out those training for a fall marathon! Volunteer Now
